The first time the Union College hockey team qualified for the 16-team NCAA Tournament, the Dutchmen were treated to a standing-room only reception on campus at Nott Memorial, complete with a national television hookup with ESPN.

This time around, the ECAC champion Dutchmen were still on the bus heading home from Lake Placid when the bids were announced Sunday with a throng of local media measuring in the single digits awaiting them at Messa Rink.

Making the NCAA's is no longer big news at Union, the question now has become how much damage the second-ranked Dutchmen can do in the tournament.

"I don't want to think it's a ho-hum thing, it never gets old," Union coach Rick Bennett said. "You could still see the excitement in that locker room, but a feeling that boys, we've got some work to do."

Union (28-6-4) is the top seed in the East Region and will face Vermont (20-14-3) of the Hockey East in its opening-round game Friday at 2 p.m. in Bridgeport, Conn., with fellow ECAC rival Quinnipiac and Providence rounding out the region.

Union will be looking to extend its school-record for wins in a single season against the Catamounts, led by former Dutchmen coach Kevin Sneddon, who registered a record of 50-99-18 while at Union from 1998-2002.

Bennett has had some early feedback on Vermont.

"Very hard working, fast, you've got to fight for your ice," Bennett said. "I always thank Kevin for his work here and help pave the way for guys like me. I look forward to the matchup."

This tournament bid is the fourth straight for Union and will be the third trip to Bridgeport for the regionals.

The Dutchmen, 12-0 in ECAC playoff games under Bennett in his three years, advanced to the Frozen Four in 2012 after winning its regional as the top seed in Bridgeport.

"We had some good success there a couple of years ago and we look to keep it going there and hopefully we can pull it out again," junior defenseman Shayne Gostisbehere said.

Union heads into tournament play sporting a 25-3-2 record in its last 30 games and is unbeaten in its last 13 games (12-0-1).

Along with a solid defense and steady play of goaltender Colin Stevens, the Dutchmen are rolling all four lines and their depth has been a factor in wearing down opponents in the postseason.

"If we take care of our own end, we should have some good luck out there," senior captain Mat Bodie said. "You're always looking down the bench and you see guys that are going to step up and you have trust in your teammates."

"That has been one of the reasons we've been so successful this season so far."

The regional features the last three Union head coaches including Sneddon, Bennett and Providence coach Nate Leaman, who took over for Sneddon in 2003 and went 138-127-2 at Union before taking the Friar job following the 2011 season.